Frances Marie Burke

Lawrence Kenney
(m. 1945)
Children4

Frances Marie Kenney (née Burke; May 4, 1922 – December 2, 2017) was an American beauty pageant contestant who was the winner of Miss America in 1940.

Biography

Burke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was crowned Miss America at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on September 7, 1940.

She competed in the pageant as Miss Philadelphia.[2]

After winning the Miss America title Burke worked as a successful model. Despite opportunities in Hollywood, she chose to stay close to her family in Philadelphia.

Burke was married to Lawrence Kenney for 72 years and had four children (Missy, Wendy, Lawrence, and William) and was the grandmother of five boys and five girls.[3][4][5]

She died at the home of her daughter on December 2, 2017, at the age of 95.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Miss America Says Sisters Prettiest". Evening Independent. 1940-09-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  2. ^ "Miss America History 1940's - Decade in Review". Archived from the original on 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  3. ^ Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
  4. ^ "Miss America: 1940". Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  5. ^ "Miss America History 1939". Retrieved 2012-04-13.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Frances Burke Kenney Obituary
Preceded by
Patricia Donnelly
Miss America
1940
Succeeded by
Rosemary LaPlanche
Preceded by
Nancy Lee
Miss Philadelphia
1940
Succeeded by
Carrie de Ludo
  • v
  • t
  • e
1920s
  • Margaret Gorman (1921)
  • Mary Campbell (1922)
  • Mary Campbell (1923)
  • Ruth Malcomson (1924)
  • Fay Lanphier (1925)
  • Norma Smallwood (1926)
  • Lois Delander (1927)
1930s
1940s
1950s1960s1970s1980s
1990s2000s2010s
2020s
  • v
  • t
  • e
Pennsylvania pageant winners
Miss Pennsylvania
Miss Pennsylvania USA
Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA